Psalm 40a

40:13–17pp—Ps 70:1–5

For the director of music. Of David. A psalm.

1 I waited patientlyc for the Lord;

he turned to me and heard my cry.d

2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit,e

out of the mudf and mire;g

he set my feeth on a rocki

and gave me a firm place to stand.

3 He put a new songj in my mouth,

a hymn of praise to our God.

Many will see and fear the Lordk

and put their trustl in him.

4 Blessed is the onem

who trusts in the Lord,n

who does not look to the proud,o

to those who turn aside to false gods.b p

5 Many, Lord my God,

are the wondersq you have done,

the things you planned for us.

None can comparer with you;

were I to speak and tell of your deeds,

they would be too manys to declare.

6 Sacrifice and offering you did not desire—t

but my ears you have openedc—u

burnt offeringsv and sin offeringsd you did not require.

7 Then I said, “Here I am, I have come—

it is written about me in the scroll.e w

8 I desire to do your will,x my God;y

your law is within my heart.”z

9 I proclaim your saving actsa in the great assembly;b

I do not seal my lips, Lord,

as you know.c

10 I do not hide your righteousness in my heart;

I speak of your faithfulnessd and your saving help.

I do not conceal your love and your faithfulness

from the great assembly.e

11 Do not withhold your mercyf from me, Lord;

may your loveg and faithfulnessh always protecti me.

12 For troublesj without number surround me;

my sins have overtaken me, and I cannot see.k

They are more than the hairs of my head,l

and my heart failsm within me.

13 Be pleased to save me, Lord;

come quickly, Lord, to help me.n

14 May all who want to take my lifeo

be put to shame and confusion;p

may all who desire my ruinq

be turned back in disgrace.

15 May those who say to me, “Aha! Aha!”r

be appalled at their own shame.

16 But may all who seek yous

rejoice and be gladt in you;

may those who long for your saving help always say,

“The Lord is great!”u

17 But as for me, I am poor and needy;v

may the Lord thinkw of me.

You are my helpx and my deliverer;y

you are my God, do not delay.z

Psalm 41a

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

1 Blesseda are those who have regard for the weak;b

the Lord delivers them in times of trouble.c

2 The Lord protectsd and preserves them—e

they are counted among the blessed in the land—f

he does not give them over to the desire of their foes.g

3 The Lord sustains them on their sickbedh

and restores them from their bed of illness.i

4 I said, “Have mercyj on me, Lord;

healk me, for I have sinnedl against you.”

5 My enemies say of me in malice,

“When will he die and his name perish?m”

6 When one of them comes to see me,

he speaks falsely,n while his heart gathers slander;o

then he goes out and spreadsp it around.

7 All my enemies whisper togetherq against me;

they imagine the worst for me, saying,

8 “A vile disease has afflicted him;

he will never get upr from the place where he lies.”

9 Even my close friend,s

someone I trusted,

one who shared my bread,

has turnedb against me.t

10 But may you have mercyu on me, Lord;

raise me up,v that I may repayw them.

11 I know that you are pleased with me,x

for my enemy does not triumph over me.y

12 Because of my integrityz you uphold mea

and set me in your presence forever.b

13 Praisec be to the Lord, the God of Israel,d

from everlasting to everlasting.

Amen and Amen.e

BOOK II

Psalms 42–72